Lung Cancer

As one of the most common cancers in the world, lung cancer – typically caused by tobacco smoking – contributes to a high mortality rate in men and women living in the United States. Your risk for lung cancer also may increase with exposure to high levels of pollution, radiation or asbestos.

Comprehensive Lung Cancer Care Close to Home

If you or a loved one experience symptoms of lung cancer, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent cough, hoarseness, chest infections (pneumonia, bronchitis), headaches or loss of appetite, you’ll want to talk with the lung and thoracic cancer experts at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center.

Lung Cancer Screening and Early Detection

Lung cancer screening is a critical part of detecting cancer early — often before symptoms develop — when treatment is more effective. At Stephenson Cancer Center, we offer low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans to help identify lung cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages.

This quick, non-invasive screening uses a low dose of radiation to create detailed images of your lungs and is recommended for individuals at higher risk based on age and smoking history. Screening programs like LDCT have been shown to significantly reduce lung cancer deaths by identifying cancer earlier, when more treatment options are available.

Who Is Eligible for a Lung Cancer Screening?

You may be eligible for annual lung cancer screening if you:

• Are 50 years old or older; and
• Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years; and
• Have a history of heavy smoking (for example, an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years)

These criteria align with national screening guidelines for individuals at higher risk of developing lung cancer.

The low-dose CT lung cancer scan has been shown to improve survival by approximately 20 percent, according to the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Thoracic Cancers We Treat

At Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center, you’ll work with a highly trained and experienced multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing evidence-based prevention, detection, treatment and research for lung cancer and a wide range of thoracic cancers such as:

• Chest wall tumors
• Diaphragmatic tumors
• Esophageal and gastric cancers
• Mediastinal tumors
• Metastatic cancer of the lungs, chest wall and mediastinum
• Pericardial tumors
• Pleural cancers

Services & Treatments for Lung Cancer

As you and your lung cancer care team work together to develop an individualized treatment plan tailored for your specific situation, you’ll receive a thorough evaluation, take advantage of advanced imaging for accurate diagnosis and meet for regular reviews. OU Health is the first in Oklahoma to use a new imaging agent that makes lung cancer cells glow during surgery. This breakthrough will improve lung cancer treatment, enhancing surgical precision and speeding up patient recovery.

Cytalux®, is a fluorescent imaging technology that attaches to cancerous tissues when administered before surgery. This allows surgeons to completely remove tumors while preserving healthy tissue. On Target Laboratories, Inc., a biotech company, received FDA approval for Cytalux® in November 2021 for use in adult patients with ovarian cancer. In December 2022, the FDA extended this approval to include adult patients with known or suspected lung cancer.

Personalized Cancer Treatment

The best treatment for you depends on several factors, including the stage of the disease and the location of the tumor. You and your doctors can take advantage of a variety of treatment methods, including:

• Chemotherapy – Medications to destroy cancer cells
• Radiation therapy – Targeted radiation to shrink tumors for easier removal
• Targeted therapy – Special medications to interrupt abnormal cell growth
• Specialized surgery – Procedures to remove the tumor or part of the lung
• Single port thoracic robotic surgery – Procedure reduces nerve irritation and muscle injury by creating incisions below the ribs

Cancer Navigation Services

Throughout your journey at Stephenson Cancer Center, your care team includes a nurse navigator, a specially trained registered nurse (RN) who acts as your personal advocate and adds an extra layer of support. Learn more about cancer navigation services.

Supportive Care Services

You also gain access to extensive supportive care services, such as genetic counseling, nutritional therapy, support groups, palliative care, cancer education workshops, and symptom and pain management. And you’ll find all your cancer-related services in a bright, welcoming, up-to-date facility close to home and designed for your comfort and convenience.

Your Lung & Thoracic Cancer Care Team

From your first contact with Stephenson Cancer Center, you become a vital part of our multidisciplinary team approach that brings you together with cancer specialists, such as medical oncologists, cancer surgeons, pathologists, radiologists and others, to ensure you receive the best care for your particular condition.